Lifting device for use with hoisting jacks, and the method of using it



July 23, 1935. E. o. KEATOR 2,008,868

LIFTING DEVICE FOR USE WITH HOISTING JACKS, AND THE METHOD OF USING IT Filed March .30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I VIII/ 1111" INVENTOR @ZMW/Qm AND THE METHOD OF USING IT July 23, 19.35.

E. o. KEATOR LIFTING DEVICE FOR USE WITH HOISTING JAGKS,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1931 ment of all kinds.

Patented July 23, 1935 PATENT ()FFICE} LIFTING DEVICE FOR- USE WITH HOISTING JACKS, AND THE METHOD OF USING IT Edward 0. Keator, Dayton, Ohio Application March 30,1931, Serial No. 526,177

18 Claims. Cl. 254 -133) Ivfyinvention relates to improvements in lifting devices for use with hoisting jacks commonly used on construction work for lifting heavy equip The objects of my invention are; first, to increase the vertical lifting range from one setting of the jack; second, to simplifyv the labor incident to the use of jacks on certain classes of work; third,. to widen the field of use of the hoisting'jack. These and other objects are attained with my invention which I am about to describe and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the entire device in a formin which I prefer to construct it.

' Different styles of jacks require some variation therefrom but without changing the principles described; Fig. 1A is a vertical section'of a part of the device on line lfi-i6. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a type of jack for which my device is adapted, showing the jack in position for lifting an object, a railroad rail in this instance, with the shoe A. Other parts of the jack disclosed in Fig. 2 are; the head B, the frame C, slot D in which'the shoe travels and determines the maximum height of the lift,-and the rack bar E, which connects the shoe with the head and transmits the lifting force thereto from the jacking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the object raised to the maximum height with the shoe of they jack, and shows the jacking socket F and hand-hold G not disclosed in Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a side elevation showing the jack in position for lifting an object with the head, and Fig. 5 shows the object lifted to the maximum height thereby, all without the use of my device.

' Fig; 6 is a'rearelevation of my invention show.- ing the various members positioned for placement on the jack .but not in use. Fig. 6A is an elevationshowing .a detail in the device not visible in Fig.1, to be mentioned hereinafter. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are side elevations showing various stages passed through in making lifts with my device. Hav ngthus described the various figures, I will now explain the relationship between my device and the hoisting jack. 7

In using the-common hoisting jack alone, lifting may be done either with'the head or the shoe, as illustrated, but it is ordinarily impossible to lift anobject high enough with the shoe to permit securing a purchase with the head at thesame spot, after tripping the jack, even by blocking up the object the full measure of the lift with the shoe. Therefore, where a higher lift is required than is possible to obtain with one lift with the shoe, both the object andthe jack must be blocked up before lifting can proceed, or, a holemust be dugin which to set the jack so that the'head may beused for making the second lift, after the object has been blocked up.

, On some classes of work blocking up or digging holes are both impracticable. On soft ground too, there is always more or less settlement of the jack under the weight of theIobject, and whatever this settlement is, it lessens the efiective-lift of the jack just that much. For that reason hoist- 1 0 ing jacks are usually made longer and heavier, hence more costly, than would be necessary otherwise. .To combine the shoe lift with the head lift therefore, does not obtain merely the advantage of doubling them, but, since practically all .settleinent is confined to the firstlift, it might easily increase the effective lift severalhundred per cent with the same labor.

My inventionaccomplishes the transitions in which the shoe lift iscombined with the head 2 lift by the use of certain principles built into it in conjunction with the normal operation of the 'jack, broadly described. as follows: Partaking somewhat of the nature of a cradle,'the device is hung on theframe of the jack in position to receive the object lowered upon it with the shoe of the jack. Withlthe object thus held supported by the frame, the jack is tripped and the rack bar permitted to drop back, into the frame which places the head in position to secure a purchase on the device for making the second, lift, thereby completing the transition. Having outlined the general nature of my device, I will now explain the various parts in detail.

As constructedinrthe general form shown in Figures 1 and 6, the device consists of. a pair of hangers ll',- with shoes 2-2 atthe. lower ex.-

Itreniities thereof, and aremovab1e yoke 3, con,-

necting the .upperextremities of the hangers to form a cradle withthem and the shoes thereon. :10 The movement of the-yoke is controlled by pin 4 groove 1, lug 8, and by inwardly sloping beveled edges 5 and 6 at the lower edges of theopenings through which the yoke passes. Lugs9,9 are forine d on the hangers to engage the frame of 515 the jack so that the weight of an object placed on the shoes may be'supported from these lugs.

Another yoke, 10, connects the said hangers to hold them rigidly spaced and may also be posi- ,tioned to engage the frame. of the jack forsup- 59 porting therefrom all or a part of the wei ht and holel l therein permits making attachments with the-head of the jack. I r a r To offset the force of gravity tending to disengage the shoes-2-.-2 from the objectand assure safety, I provide a removable bar I2 which connects the hangers and bears against the jack, thereby preventing them from swinging from under the object. The travel of this bar is controlled by a key I3 fastened to the end, which functions with the slot I4 in one hanger and the absence of such slot in the other. Having thus explained the various features of my device, I shall now describe its operation.

Ordinarily, use of the device begins when the object has already been lifted as high as possible with the shoe of the jack, as shown in Fig. 3, and the first step before placing the device on the jack is to withdraw yoke 3 and pin I2 as far as their respective stops permit, as shown in Fig. 6, the stops being represented by the end wall of the slot 1 to the left in Fig. 1 and by the key I3, respectively. The device is then placed on the jack, bar I2 is thrust home and locked, and the object gently lowered from the shoe of the jack onto the shoes 2,2 of the device, as shown in Fig. 7. The jack is then tripped, permitting the rack bar to drop back into the frame, with the head B just below yoke 3 which is then thrust home, as shown in Fig. 8, and lifting is continued until the rack bar has been fully extended a second time, as shown in Fig. 9. To recapitulate: my invention comprises a device which, after an object has been lifted a given distance with the shoe of a jack, is used as a medium whereby to transfer the weight of the object from the shoe to the frame of the jack, and then used as a medium whereby the weight is transferred from the frame to the head of the rack, the head being then used to raise the weight a second lift. If a third lift is desired, the object is now blocked up, the jack tripped, the head 'of the device placed under the object and lifting continued as shown in Fig. 10.

As a safety measure, pin 4 is positioned in yoke 3, near the end thereof, and is loosely set so that gravity causes it to drop below the confines of the hole in the hanger through which the said yoke 3 projects, thus preventing accidental withdrawal thereof when in operation. But to prevent stoppage of the yoke when it is being intentionally withdrawn or inserted, the beveled edges 5-43 are formed in the hangers to contact with pin 4 and force it up into its socket, except when starting the withdrawal of the yoke, in which instance it is done by hand, all as shown in Figs. 1, 1A, 6 and 6A.

As a further measure to secure safety and rapid manipulation of yoke 3, groove I having closed ends, is provided in the side of the yoke 3 and engages lug 8 projecting from one side of the hanger, the groove and lug together limiting the travel of the yoke in either direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, without requiring any attention to that detail on the part of the operator.

In the movable bar I 2, a key I 3 at the end thereof is the safety catch, being thrust through slot I4 in the hanger and given a ninety degree turn, as shown in Fig. 1, all'with one movement of the hand grasping the handle of the pin shown in Fig. 6. The shoulder I5 next to the handle controls the travel of the bar in one direction, and key l3, contacting with the inside face of the hanger not provided with a slot, controls the travel in the opposite direction.

Having thus described my invention and explained its operation, what I claim is:

1. The combination in a lifting device for use with a hoisting jack having a shoe, of a pair of hangers, having shoes at the lower extremities thereof adapted for engaging and assuming the support of an object supported by the shoe of the jack, and lugs spaced apart therefrom on the said hangers adapted to engage the frame of the jack so that the weight of the object may be transferred from the said shoe of the jack to the said frame by operating the mechanism of the jack to withdraw said jack shoe.

2. In a lifting device for use with a hoisting jack, the combination of a pair of hangers having shoes at the lower extremities thereof and having means for suspending the same from the frame of the jack, and a yoke for connecting the said hangers and providing stability thereto in lifting operations.

3. In a lifting device for use. with a hoisting jack, a pair of hangers having means at their lower extremities for engaging and supporting an object lifted with the shoe of the jack, a yoke connecting said hangers and adapted to engage the frame of the jack, enabling said hangers to assume the support of the object lifted by the. jack, and means associated with the hangers and detachable from one of them, for attaching the hangers to the head of the jack in lifting operations.

4. In a.- lifting device for use with a hoisting jack, the combination of a pair of hangers having shoes at the lower extremities thereof, means connecting the said hangers for unity of action, said hangers having means for engaging the frame of the jack, and a member adjacent the said shoes, connected to said hangers and adapted to bear against the jack to prevent said shoes disengaging from the said object while supporting the same.

5. In a lifting device for use with a. hoisting jack, the combination of hangers having shoes at the lower extremities thereof and openings at the upper extremities thereof, a slidable pin located in the openings at the upper extremities adapted to be removed to avoid interference with certain tripping operations of the jack and to be replaced to provide a purchase for the head thereof in its lowered position, said hangers having means for suspending the same from the frame of the jack during tripping operations.

6. In a lifting device for use with a hoisting jack, a pair of hangers having means thereon adapted to engage and support an object lifted with the shoe of the jack, and having means for engaging said hangers with the frame of the jack for supporting the weight of said object by, said frame, and a yoke connecting said hangers and adapted to engage the head of the jack when said head is in lowered or tripped position, said yoke being. withdrawable to avoid interference with the rack bar during the tripping operation.

'7. A lifting device for use with a hoisting jack comprising the combination of a pair of hangers having shoes at the lower extremities thereof, a yoke spacing apart the said hangers, rigidly connecting the same and adapted for engaging the frame of the jack and supporting the weight of the lifted object therefrom, and a movable pin adjacent to the shoes on the said hangers, connecting the said hangers one with the other.

' 8. In a movable yoke. and housings therefor in a lifting device for use with a hoisting jack, the combination of 'a loose pin located in the said yoke near the end thereof, adapted to project beyond the confines of the said yoke for locking the same in conjunction with the said housings, said housings having openings accommodating said yoke and said openings having beveled edges, said beveled edges being adapted to contact with the end of the said pin and force the same into its 9. In a lifting device for use with a hoisting,

jack, a pair of hangers having means at their lower extremities for engaging and supporting an object lifted with the shoe of the jack, and a yoke adapted to connect said hangers and, be engaged by the head of the jack for a second lift, said yoke being detachable from one of said hangers to permit retraction of the rack.

10. In combination with a jack, a movable bar and hangers therefor, a key fastened to'the end of said bar, one of said hangers having slots adapted to permit the passage of said key, the other hanger being devoid of such slots, and a shoulder on the end of the bar opposite to the said key.

11. In a lifting device for use in connection with a jack whereby an object has been lifted with the shoe of the jack, a member having a shoe, said member having means for engaging with the frame of the jack to be supported thereby, said last named shoe being thereby enabled to assume the support ofsaid object when the jack shoe is lowered.

12. In a lifting device for use in connection with a jack whereby an object has been lifted with the shoe of the jack, a member having a shoe, said member having means for engagingwith the frame of the jack to be supported thereby, said last named shoe being thereby enabled to assume the support of said object when the jack shoe is lowered, a member attached to the first mentioned member, and means whereby this last mentioned member can be caused to rest upon the jack head after the jack shoe has'been lowered, to the end that said object will be raised when the head is again raised. 7 v

13. In a lifting device for use in connection with a jack whereby an object has been lifted with the shoe of the jack, a pair of shoes adapted to receive the weight'of said object, a yoke whereby said shoes are united, said yoke being adapted to rest on the frame of the jack with one of said shoes on each side of the jack shoe, and a member movably attached to said shoes and adapted to be moved into the path of the jack head after the jack head has been lowered, to the end that when the head is again raised it will impinge on said member and raise said object farther.

14. In a lifting device for use in connection with a jack whereby an object has been lifted with the shoe of the jack, a pair of shoes adapted to receive the weight of said object, a yoke whereby said shoes are united, said yoke being so arranged that said shoes can be introduced under said object after it has been raised by said jack shoe and said yoke caused to rest upon the frame of the jack, so that when the jack shoe is lowered said shoes can assume the support of said object, and a member movably attached to said shoes and adapted to be moved into the path of the jack head after the jackhead has been lowered, to the end that when the head is again raised it will impinge on said member and raise said object farther.

15. The method of lifting an object with a jack, which'method comprises first lifting the object with the shoe of the jack, then transferring the weight of the object tothe frame of the jack, thereby holding the object at substantially the height to which it was raised by the shoe, then lowering the shoe of the jack, and then transferring the weight of the object to the head of the jack and raising the head, to the end that when the head is raised the object is raised from the height at which it was maintained by the frame of the jack.

16. The method of lifting an object with a jack a distance greater than the jack is normally capa- Y ble of lifting an object, which method comprises lifting the object with the shoe of the jack as far as the shoe is capable of lifting it, then transferring the support of the object to the frame of the jack, thereby holding the object at substantially the height to which it was lifted by the jack shoe, thereafter lowering the shoe and then transferring the support of the object to the head of the jack and raising the head, to the end that when the head is raised the object is raised from the height at which it was maintained by the frameof the jack..

17. In combination, a jack, a member adapted,

when an object has been lifted with the jack, to be placed in a position with reference to the jack such that if the object be lowereda relatively slight distance its weight will be transferred to the frame of the jack through the medium of said member, thereby retaining the object in an elevated position when the jack is tripped.

18. In combination, a jack, a member adapted, when an object has been lifted with the jack, to

be placed in a position with reference to the jack the object is raised from said elevated position.

EDWARD O. Y KEATOR. 

